sleeveless
Americanadjective
-
without sleeves.
-
amounting to nothing; unprofitable; futile.
a sleeveless errand.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sleeveless
before 950; Middle English; Old English slīeflēas. See sleeve, -less
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The innocence of the Montagues is signified by their white attire—even though it is glitter-spangled or, in Romeo’s case, stylish wide-legged pants and a sleeveless shirt that might be straight from Zara.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Encased in a long, black sleeveless dress, she’s giving a mixture of off-duty rock star and summer goth.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
One wore a sleeveless crochet dress with geometric patterns, another a loud multicolored jacket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
The sleeveless shirts, the cries of 'vamos!', the ill-advised buzzcut in New York all add to the theatre.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
I was wearing my favorite shirt — sleeveless, white eyelet lace; I was wearing it as a farewell gesture.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
